Convertible auto-body.



, G. C. MCKMAN.

CONVERTIBLE AUTO BODY.

APPLIATIQN FILED Aue.9. |916.

1 ,247,840, Patented Nov. 27, 1917.

A 2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

3 ,E fz W #I eoleCwc/rman O GJC. IACKMAN.

CONVERTIBLE AUTO BODY,

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 9, 19H5.

y 2 SHEETS-SHEET L.

1,247,840. mennedmnv. 27, um.

Geauga? 62 Ja alu/1an UNITED strains PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE C. JACKMAN, 0F SPOKANE, WASHINGTON.

Application filed August 9, 1916.

7b all lw/mm it may concern.'

Be it known that I, Geenen C. J'AGKMAN, a citizen oi' the United States, residing at Spokane. in the county of Spokane and State of v\l"ashing ton, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Convertible ..L\nto-Bodics, of which thc following is a specification.

My invention relates to improVemen-tsin convertible auto bodies, especially of the touringr type designed to carry four or more passengers. i

Une of the principal objects of my invention is the provision of an arrangement and construction whereby the seats and the baggage compartment may be utilized in conjunction with certain additional conveniently adjustable members, supports, and fastenings to convert the body into sleeping quarters.

A further object of my invention is the provision of an auto body in which the upholstery and the seatsexcept the drivers soak-may be entirel removed in order that the car may be user for delivery or otherl commercial purposes.

A further object is to provide an arrangement and construction whereby comfortable :weommodations for four peopleadeftluately protected against the weather, are ormed when the body is converted.

A further object resides in, providing improvements o-E the foregoing character which will be of.simple construction, .convenient to manipulate, and which will in no wise detract from the appearance of tbecar.

Generally speaking, my invention comprises, in combination with an auto'body of more or less conventional type, a baggage compartment located` at the rear, knockdown and removable rear seats, and adjustable forward seats, adjustable and removable hinged` side upper berth sections, and means for supporting and securing the lat ter sections.

'In the drawings which are a part of this application Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of an auto body built in accordance with my specification, the section being L throughthe center of the body, and 4showing the interior 'thereof as it is arranged for passenger service. 4

Fig. 2 is a like sectional view showing the body converted into sleeping quartersyconsisting of an upper and a lower berth.

CONVERTIBLE AU'roBoDY. y

`the usual springs.

Specification o f Letters Patent. Patelltrl NOV. 27, 1.91 7.

Serial No. 113,917.

l Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view on line 3--3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged section through one of the sides of the car body showin the manner of hinging one of the upper erth sections.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged part sectional view of Fig. 2, showing one of the side brace-rods and o ne of the upper berth sections in position `for use.

Fig. 6 is a view from the outside of thel ings in which like reference characters indicate like parts in the several views ljust described the lnumerall designates "the 'floor of the car body and 2 the sidesthereof, while 3 indicates 'the compartment vin which is carried one of the upholstered sections 4 for the lower slee ing berth, baggage, bedding, pillows, etc. he compartment is provided with a suitable closure 5.

ln Fig. 1, whichfshows on chalf of the body lengthwise thereof, it will bc observed that one of the rear seats is composed of a cushion 6 for the back, the said cushion being supported'just forward 'ofand bythe top of the compartment 3 and resting upon the fioor of theca-r, the removable cushion 7, and a box cushion S'prcferablymadje with It will be understood that alike seat is provided for each side of the car, the two seats adjoining one another. Front seats'sl-ichasshown in Figs. land 2 are. constructed with their backs and legs pivotally hinged at 8 and 9' respectively, so that when the body is 'converted 'for sleeping purposes they may be folded up and moved out of the way asy indicated in Fig'. 2.

thereof'rby the hinging' means 10 in such a manner that they may beA entireiyremoved or detached, are the upholstered upper berth sections, 12, 13,' md14,"e`ach of said4 sections being disposed oppositely to its" corresponding 4section, on the other side of the'body, the centrally located section 13 being secured Mounted within the body and on each side i105.

l'shown on the top edge of the open door in to the car door when not in use, as in Fig. 1, by means of the hinged astenings 15 as Fig. 6. These sections are adapted to be swung upward on their hinges tohriz'ontal position as in Figs. 2 and 3 when it-is desired tov convert the body into sleepingquarters, the sections opposite to one anot er on each sifgleiof thebody then meeting centrally thereo being secured together in such a way as to prevent their dropping down, by means of suitable bolts 16.

In Fig. 7 is shown sin enlarged detail of the method of supporting the central upholstered upper berth section 13 upon the side of the car body when the upper berth is made up. This arrangement com rises an eye-member 17 secured to the b y, and e slidable bolt 18 mounted in the socket or guide 19 in the said section. This device allows for ingress and egre to the lower berth and for the ventilation thereof, as the door may be opened or closed without interfering with the upper berth section.

In order to prevent straining, bending, or any lateral movement of the body sides by reason of the outward pressure of the upper berth sections when the same are in use,I have provided the brace-rods 20, Figs. 2, 3, and .5, extending from side to side,the.latter figure showing an enlarged view ofthe method of securing the same t0 the sides, the bent ends of the rods being mounted in the brackets 21 from which they may be de tached.

The steering wheel 22 is hinged or otherwise so mounted en the steering column that :itma be adjustedV horizontally so as to. be out o the way of the'upper berth.

Inorder to-convert the body for sleeping purposes the front seats ere pushed 'forward upon their hinged legsand the backs folded down, the arrangement being clearly shown in Fig. 2. Then to make up the lower berth the rear seats which yconsist of the three cushion members are moved forward, p the uppercusluons `being used as pillows or head rests'for the upper berth, and the lower boxv cushions :is head rests for the lower berth, the backcushions with vthe upholstered meinbers 4 in the rear'bziggage receptacle corn.

pleting thebed, Y

The upper berthismudenpby swinging upon their lf'iingesthe-sixvnpper berth sectionsfthrce ofwhich. areMh-inged to each side oi the` csr.I body-so that the oppositely disposed sections ,will moet as shown in Fig. 2, being secured together as hereinbe'fore described,V :ind `providing a substantially level surface.

Alfie` uselgheberths may betaken down,

the vseveral elements being returned to their respective positionsasindicated in ,.Fig. 1.

In order to, dothislthe upperl berth sections are eithenentirelyremoved and placed in osition vertically or the lower berth cushions may be removed and the upper berth sections swung dow upon their Ahinges as shown. in Fig. Al, and then the sent cushions set up in place. lo. replacing the neutral 'upper berth sections the same are released. from -It to be noted that with the arrangeNA ment and construction which I have devised the ordinary7 type of our top und curtains serve to provide e cover und housing for the upper berth which afford :imple protection from the weather and adequate privacy.

From they foregoing description token in connection with the drawings it is app:I nu' that I have pro-vided .fr ver f Complete und thoroughly practical sind desirable nuto body Mwhich lquite ulils all of the 'objects for which it is designed. It muy be easil Aund 'quickly converted into a deliverybo.. y by simply removing the berth sections and one ormore of the seats, or it may be converted with little labor ,for sleeping purposes :is above explained.

It islto be understood that .Il reserve the right to modify the construction :and arrangement herein shown, without waiving my rights to protection,` es long es in so doing l do not depart from the spirit of the invention set forth iu the iinneXed clan'is.

I claim .as my invention v I l. In combination with u vehicle body vertically disposed upper berth sections ud justably mounted upon the sides thereof, up per berth sections mounted upon the doors V`of the vehicle, means for supporting one or more of the latter sections upon the sides ol? the vehicle when the body is converted for sleepinggpurposeS, und means for securing` thesaidsections in substantially horizontal position.

2. In uconvertible vehicle. :i: vehicle body having side -portionaupholstered sections normally, disposed \'crticnlly uguiust the sides ofsaid body lund having tl'lcir uphol 4stored porti-ons facingiuwordl'y of scid body, und nicclnuism for sustaining smid scctions iu u horizontul and Icouti'gllous relation across said bodywith theJ upholstered portions of said sections uppermost to form u. sleeping support, substantially us'descrilwd.

il. Tn u convertiblc vehicle, e vehicle boiljv having side portions, n plurality of' uphol-4 stered sections lfor 'euch side portion., said sections being normally disposed vertiieiillx-v against seid side .portions and having their upholstered-faces disposed-inwm'dly ol snir'l ide Mii

tions of the opposite side pf Itions in horizontal contiguous longitudinil and lateral relation across the inside of the said body to form a sleeping support, substantially as described.

4. In a convertible `vehicle, a vehicle body having side portions, a section for cach side portion and each section having its upper .edge portionhinged to its respective side portion to normally lie vertically and flat against its respective side portion, and mechanism coacting with the normally lower edge portions of said sections when said sections are swung into a. horizontal position to support said sections in horizontal contiguous relation across said body to form a sleeping l bod, substantially as described.

5. In a convertible vehicle, avchicle body having side portions, upholstered sections hinged in opposed relation at their upper edges to said side portions and normally hanging downwardly in vertical relation against said side portions with their upholstered faces lying inwardly of said body, and mechanism for sustaining said sections in a tion across said body to form a sleeping support, substantially as described.

6. In a convertible vehicle, a vehicle body having side portions, a normally Vertically disposed upholstered section lying tlat against each side oi said body and being proportioned to meet in contiguous relation when the lower edge portions of said sections are swung into a horizontal position, and mechanism vcarried by the normally lower edges ofsaid sections for coaction with the sides of said body to sustain said sections` in a horizontal position, substan- 40 tially as described.

7. In a convertible vehicle, a vehicle body having a side portion, a door interrupting said 4side portion., an upholstered section having its upper edge hinged to the upper edge of said door and normally lying vertically against the inside face of said door with itsupholstered portion facing inwardly of the car, means enacting with', said door whe-.n.the latter is closed for support- 6 0 ing said section in a horizontal position with the upholstered portion y facing up- IWardly, and mechanism for sustaining the door edgeof said section on the side of said body to permitlsaid door be opened and.

thereby adord access to raid body through said doorway and below said section, Saly stantially as 1described.

8. In a convertible vehicle.,4 a vehicle bodyy w having a side portion., a swinging door in- .60 terrupting said-.side portion, a bed support- 'ing section hinged to the inside face of Isaid `door and normally lying vertically "against the. inside face of said door, means coasting 'with said door for supporting said bed section in a horizontal position, and mechanism horizontal position and in contiguous rela-- for sustainin the door edge of said section on the side oil said body to permit said door to be swung open and thereby afford access to said body tbroughthedoorway and below said section, substantially as described.

9. In a convertible vehicle2 a vehicle body having a side portion, a swinging door interrupting said side portion, a bed supporting section, means coacting with said door to support said bed supporting section in a horizontal position 'when said doorV is closed, and. mechanism for supporting the door edge of said section independently of said door to permit the latter to be opened 'thereby affording' access to said body through the doorway and below said section, substantially as described.

10. A convertible vehicle body having side portions, a swinging door interrupting one side portion, an upholstered section removably mounted against the inside face of said door, said door side portion of said body having a 'removable upholstered sectionv mounted thereon fore and-aft of said door, and means for supporting all of said sections in a horizontal bed sustaining-position, substantially as described.

11. In a convertible veh`icle,a vehicle body having a bottom, a seat for said .bottom comprising a. horizontal seat section and a substantially vertical back section, and a cushion'section in the rear of said back section, said back and seat sections being for- .ardly adjustable4 on said bottom to con'- tiguous horizontal relation with each other and with ille back section in contiguous horizontal relation with Vsaid cushion section to form a bed extending along and directly supported on said bottom, substantially as described.

12. A4 vehicle body havinga iorwardly disposed seating ,compartment and a baggage compartment in rear of and communieating with said seating compartment, a cushion section in said baggage compartment, a scat in said ing a seat section and a substantially Vertical back section interposed between said seat and cushion sections and vclosing com-- munication between said baggage and seating compartment, said back and seat sections being. adjustable into horizontal contiguous re. ation with respect to each other and said back section being adjustable into a horizontal and contiguous relation with said cushion section to form a supporting bed extending lengthwise of and supported on. the bottom of said body, described.

13. A. convertible vehicle body having substantially' as sides .nd a bottom, ctions movable longitud1n.. I oIA said body into contiguous. re-

lation to form a sleeping bei, and sections movable transversely of Saiclbodyinto conti'guous relation to form a sleeping-bed, one

seating compartment` comprisof seid slee ing beds being in superposed extending from the bottom of said body 10 relation 'witli respect to the other, said uptoward the tops of said sides and said secer and lower beds extending laterally tions being movable upwardly from a vercrossdhe body from one side to the other tical position into a. horizontal positif .j,5-thereof,. substantially as described. transversely 'of said body to form a slee 14. AA convertible vehicle body having ing bed above said lower sleeping bed7 su 15 Sides and a bottom, sections movable lon stantiallyes described: gitudinally along the bottom of seid body In testimony whereof I aix my signature. to form a lower sleeping bed, and sections GEORGE C. JACKMAN. 

